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By Torch & Key
About the Founder of the Sanctuary
Hello everyone, my name is Kenn and I am the founder of the Sanctuary of Hekate Polymorphos, based in the UK. Cheshire born, I have resided in Coventry in the West Midlands for over fifteen years.
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I have been a devotee and Torchbearer within the Covenant since its inception. In my 23 years of actively exploring Paganism I have explored various aspects of Wicca, Witchcraft, Druidry and Hellenic Reconstructionism. Though even before then, I was always fascinated with the tales and historical remnants of Ancient Greece and Egypt. I have spent my time exploring different elements of self-taught Wicca, Witchcraft, Hellenic Reconstructionism and Druidry. In January 2021 I passed my OBOD Bardic Grade, and am currently working through Ovate.
For more than a decade my devotion and work has been heavily focused on Hekate, though I also fosters a strong relationship with Dionysos.
As a founding member of the Covenant of Hekate, I have achieved the role of Torchbearer and in September 2021 I was honoured to enter the Circle of Keybearers as Diversity, Inclusion & Equality Guardian, to help specifically oversee the diversity and inclusion efforts of the Covenant of Hekate and develop strategies to help keep our membership diverse and inclusive now and in the future.
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Diverse perspectives can inspire creativity and drive innovation. Cultural sensitivity, insight, and knowledge means higher quality, targeted support for those who feel they require it and, in this role, I will be offering Keybearer Blessings, extending an inclusive “welcome” to anyone who feels ‘other’ or outside, or who otherwise feels they would like to formally acknowledge and celebrate their differences, adding to their sense of belonging once they become members of the CoH.
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All this will be done in accordance with the CoH Aims, seeing the World Soul as being in all of us regardless of race, gender, sexuality, [dis]ability, intelligence etc. As such I would be an embodiment and representative of the CoH’s stance on these issues, as well as working by the remit of the Virtues:
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Key areas of diversity and their characteristics, include (but are not limited to):
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culture, race, ethnicity.
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disability.
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religious or spiritual beliefs.
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gender, including transgender.
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intersex.
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Generational/ageism.
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sexual orientation/sexual identity
In this role, I will oversee the diversity and inclusion efforts of the Covenant of Hekate. developing strategies to help keep our membership diverse, inclusive, fair and tolerant. I am also able to provide a "Keybearer Blessing" with regards to this role and should you wish to contact me for further info and/or the Keybearer Blessing, please feel free to email me at: hekatepolysanctuary@gmail.com
Kenn taking part in a Rite of Her Sacred Fires relay at the 2021 Hekate Symposium.
Walking with Hekate has not always been easy, and I have travelled along some dark roads with Her, experiencing numerous tests and trials in accepting parts of my self and developing along my Path but all of it has been for my greater good. She came to me during some dark and troubling times. I have experienced and endured various struggles on a personal level, which include bigotry, bullying, sexual abuse, domestic violence, self-harm and mental health issues.
I have definitely learned over the years that the depth and rich variation of Hekate and Her Devotees is wonderfully enlightening and enriching. Not all of us agree or see eye-to-eye on all matters but there is lots of things to be learned and integrated through better understanding of both what we agree with and what we disagree with (a little healthy debate never harmed anyone).
Through my years as part of the Covenant of Hekate I have also been fortunate enough to associate and meet with many interesting, diverse and devoted people from all walks of life. Brought together under a single commonality (Hekate) we are all learning from each other as we walk our Paths in slightly different ways, towards a common(ish) goal.
As Torchbearer, Kenn strives to shine a light of wisdom and devotion in the Goddess' name.
What I have also realised is that Hekate comes to us all in different ways at different times. Just because I haven’t seen or encountered Her in a particular way does not make the experience of someone else, any less valid. We have to agree to disagree sometimes. The Goddess is alive and capable of change and evolution; She is not rigid or stuck in time like Her statues.
Kenn at his first group ritual in 2011, celebrating the Rite of Her Sacred Fires (left), and at his home in 2020 (right).